Automate Smart Curtains or Blinds in Morning and Evening

Learn how to automate your curtains or blinds with Node-RED for a comfortable home experience.

Posted by Erica Lane on May 11, 2025 · 5 mins read

Automate Smart Curtains or Blinds in Morning and Evening

When it comes to enhancing your home automation experience, one of the most delightful upgrades is installing smart curtains or blinds. Imagine waking up to sunlight gently streaming into your room, or enjoying the comforting protection of privacy at dusk—all without lifting a finger. Thanks to Node-RED, you can set a schedule for your smart curtains or blinds, automating their opening and closing to align with your daily routine. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to leverage Node-RED to automate your smart curtains or blinds effectively.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Step 1: Gather Your Components

Before diving into Node-RED, ensure you have the following:

  1. Smart Curtains or Blinds: Make sure your curtains or blinds are compatible with a smart home system. Many brands have Wi-Fi or Zigbee-enabled options.
  2. Home Automation Hub: This could be a smart home hub or a Raspberry Pi running Node-RED.
  3. Node-RED Installed: If you haven’t set up Node-RED yet, visit the Node-RED website for installation instructions.
  4. Alexa Device: If you want voice control, ensure you have an Amazon Alexa device ready.

Step 2: Configure Node-RED

  1. Access Node-RED: Open your browser and navigate to your Node-RED dashboard (usually at http://localhost:1880).
  2. Install Nodes: Use the Palette Manager to install the node-red-contrib-alexa-home-skill if you wish to control your curtains with Alexa. This module allows you to create and manage an Alexa skill for your Node-RED flows.
  3. Create a Flow:
    • Input Node: Drag and drop an “inject” node. Configure it to trigger at your desired time (morning for opening, evening for closing).
    • Function Node: Add a function node to handle the logic. This will send a command to your curtains or blinds. Sample code to send a command could look like this: msg.payload = "open"; // or "close"
    • Output Node: Connect to your specific curtains/blinds control node. This could be an HTTP request node or MQTT node—whatever is needed for your devices.
  4. Save and Deploy: Once your flow is complete, don’t forget to deploy it.

Step 3: Test Your Setup

Make sure everything is computed correctly. Trigger the inject nodes manually to ensure your curtains or blinds respond as expected. Verify that they open and close at the designated times!

Helpful Tips

  • Use Time Ranges: In your inject node settings, you can set it to repeat daily at selected times, allowing for seamless automation every day.
  • Leverage Alexa Commands: Once you’ve set up your Alexa skill using the module, you can also give voice commands to open or close your curtains. Just say, “Alexa, open the curtains” for easy access.
  • Explore Node-RED Flow Examples: If you need inspiration for your flow, browse through various node-red flow examples online to see what others have created.

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

  1. Problem: Curtains Don’t Respond
    • Check the Connection: Ensure that the Node-RED flow is correctly defined and that your curtains/blinds are powered and connected to your network.
    • Evaluate the Inject Node: Double-check your time settings. If there’s a discrepancy in time zones, ensure your Node-RED instance is set to the correct time zone.
  2. Problem: Alexa Not Responding
    • Skill Not Enabled: Make sure you’ve properly enabled the Alexa skill you’ve created. Check the Alexa app settings and ensure the skill is linked to your Amazon account.
    • Command Recognition: If Alexa isn’t recognizing your commands, test other phrases. Sometimes slight changes in phrasing can make a difference.
  3. Problem: Node-RED Not Starting
    • Check Logs: If Node-RED fails to start, check the logs in your terminal or command prompt. It can give you hints about missing packages or misconfigurations.

Final Thoughts

Automating your smart curtains or blinds can significantly enhance your home’s comfort and style while showing off your DIY smart home skills. With tools like Node-RED and Alexa, you can easily create a custom solution that suits your lifestyle. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different schedules and commands to find what works best for you.

Dive into the world of home automation, and soon you’ll find that the possibilities are endless! Happy automating!

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